LOUGHBOROUGH RFC’s 1st XV’s good run of form continued on a Saturday with a 22-8 win away at Lincoln in Midlands 2 East (North).

After a late arrival due to the Christmas market leading to delays around the city, Loughborough started much the stronger, making a number of clean line breaks in the first 15 minutes.

However a combination of forward passes and drop balls kept Lincoln in the game as Boro threatened to break loose.

However despite this it took until the 20th minute for Loughborough to get the opening score, with Ralph Coleman waltzing over the line from short range.

With the Loughborough pack dominating, allowing hooker to Andrew Thomas to take a number of balls against the head on his return to the first team, the visitors continued to pressure, with the reward being a penalty try after strong scrummaging had been too much for the home side to handle. Steven Sands converted the score.

From that point however Boro hit a difficult patch, with Lincoln first kicking a penalty, and then scoring a try of their own when an uncharactistic mix up between Ben Keast and Coleman led to a dropped ball being kicked 50 metres down field with a five point score the result.

Playing up hill in the second half the task was always going to be much harder, however Boro did well to shut the home side out to give them few scoring opportunities.

Boro’s one try came from number eight Andrew Maddocks with his first score in the 1st XV sliding in under the posts. Sands added the conversion and a penalty later on to close the game out.

Coach Chris Campbell was happy with the win after the game. “It is always difficult coming over here, especially with the shortened preparation due to the late arrival.

“However we are extremely happy to be going away with the two points. We just need to more clinical when in try scoring situations to put games like this out of sight much more quickly,”

Next week Loughborough host an improving West Bridgford side at Derby Road, kick off is 2.15pm with free admission.